Pfizer drug shows promise in breast-cancer study

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Pfizer Inc.
PFE, -0.59%
said its investigational therapy in combination with another breast-cancer drug produced significant improvement in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer in a Phase II study.

Patients who received the investigational drug--known as PD-991--along with letrozole had a median progression-free survival of 26.1 months, compared with 7.5 months for the group that received only letrozole.

"These results are especially important because of the magnitude of clinical effect observed and the fact that PD-991 represents a potential first-in-class compound," said Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for Pfizer's oncology business unit.

The Phase II study data was presented Wednesday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

The pharmaceutical giant said it plans to open a Phase III study of PD-991 next year and the company is working with regulators to advance its development.

Pfizer has been working to replace revenue lost to patent expirations with sales of new drugs. The drug maker last month reported that third-quarter profit fell 14% amid sharply lower sales of its cholesterol drug, Lipitor, which lost U.S. market exclusivity late last year.

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